Exposing the Counterfeit Bride: Ep 5: The Mouth Unmasked

0:00 Music. Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host, Connie Morris, where healing has a voice and truth is no longer silent. Father God, like Jabez, we cry out that thou would bless us indeed. Bless every woman listening beyond trauma, beyond limits, beyond what she thought was possible. Enlarge her territory. Expand her purpose. Let your hand be upon this moment. Saturate every word with oil and truth. break cycles, cancel every curse sent to silence her. This isn't just a podcast.

0:49 This is holy ground. In Jesus' name, amen. Welcome back, family, to the Diary of the Black Woman podcast, Church Chronicles, episode five. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we're continuing with the series, Removing the Cover, Exposing the Counterfeit Bride. So far, we've covered the counterfeit head, the blinded eyes, the itching ear. Now the Spirit of the Lord is pulling back the cover on the mouth of the bride because what comes out of the mouth reveals what's in the heart. In too many pulpits today, the message has been corrupted.

1:30 Instead of preaching Christ crucified, we hear a gospel of convenience. Instead of proclaiming repentance, we hear promises a reward without responsibility. Instead of holiness, we hear hype. The Bible gives us clear warning in Galatians chapter 1, 8, and 9, but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse. As we have already said, so now I say again, if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's courage.

2:12 2 Corinthians 2.17 reads, Like so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, if Christ we speak before God with sincerity as sent from God. So speak only what God tells you to speak. 1 Corinthians 1.23, where we preach Christ's crucifix, Some link black to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Family, the true bride preaches Christ and him crucified, but the counterfeit bride uses her mouth to sell another gospel, one that entertains. One that flatters, one that deceives. And the Lord again is asking, what is coming out of your mouth and whose gospel are you preaching?

2:58 The mouth, preaching another gospel. The mouth was designed to declare the word of God. Romans 10, 9 through 10 tells us, it's with our mouth we confess Jesus as Lord and are saved. But in the counterfeit church, the mouth has been corrupted. Instead of preaching repentance, pulpits are filled with promises of prosperity and wealth. Instead of pointing to the cross, sermons point to comfort. Instead of declaring truth, the message is watered down to avoid offense. This is not new. Paul warned the Galatians. He said in Galatians 1.9, if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse.

3:45 That's strong language, but it's reality. A gospel that skips the cross is not a gospel at all. Counterfeit churches preach healing without holiness. They preach blessing without obedience. They preach destiny without discipline. They preach breakthrough without repentance. And what happens? People are entertained but not transformed. They clap for sermons that stir their emotions, but walk away with a heart unchanged. They are given hype instead of holiness, sugar instead of salt, and milk instead of meat. Family, this is why the mouth matters, because the bride was meant to declare the truth of her bridegroom.

4:30 But the counterfeit bride uses her mouth to seduce, flatter, and deceive. And the Lord is asking, what gospel are you listening to and what gospel are you declaring? Where is my bride? Cries the bridegroom. Where is my bride who preaches my cross, not her comfort? Where is my bride who declares repentance, not just reward? Where is my bride who's unashamed of the gospel, even when it offends? Romans 116 says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

5:10 Jeremiah 23, 28 reminds us, let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my words be. Faithfully for what has straw to do with grain. My bride does not sell my word for profit. My bride does not water down my truth to fill seats. My bride does not entertain itching ears. She pierced the hearse with the sword of the spirit. Where is my bride? Not the one who preaches another gospel, not the one who flatters for fame, not the one who hides the cross to avoid offense, but the bride who lifts up my name, who preaches Christ and him crucified.

5:52 Who declares salvation, repentance, and holiness without compromise. Now that is my bride. Holding fast to the true gospel, the mouth reveals the heart, and if the mouth of the church is declaring another gospel, then we must test, discern, and return to what is true. Here's how we guard ourselves in this hour. Number one, test the message against the scripture. 1711 tells us that the Barians examined the scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true. Even Paul's word had to be measured by the word.

6:34 Then every sermon, prophecy, teaching today must be tested the same way. If it doesn't line up with the word, it's not from God. Number two, look for the cross. The true gospel will always point to the cross. Repentance, forgiveness, and transformation. If the message skips Calvary, and only promises crowns. It's another gospel. Discern the fruit. Jesus said in Matthew 7, by their fruit, you will recognize them. Does the preaching produce holiness, humility, and the love for God? Does it stir greed, pride, or dependence on men? The fruit reveals the root.

7:19 And number four, reject ear tickling. If you only listen to what makes you feel good, you will miss what makes you free. True. Truth doesn't always comfort, but it always saves. As Proverbs 27, 6 says, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. This is the charge. Stop ranting your ears to lies and start declaring the truth with your own mouth. Speak life. Speak Christ. Speak the gospel without compromise, because the counterfeit bride entertains, but the truth the true bride proclaims.

8:03 Let's pray. Father, we repent for every pulpit that has preached another gospel. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have chosen comfort over conviction, reward over repentance, and hype over holiness. Cleanse our mouths, O God, and fill them again with your word. Lord, restore boldness to your church. Give pastors, prophets, teachers, teachers courage to preach the truth, to preach the cross without compromise. Remind us that your gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. And let your bride be a voice of truth in a world drowning in lies. And I now speak this decree.

8:44 We decree I will not receive or declare another gospel. We decree our mouth will not be filled with the word of God and not the opinion of men. We decree that we are unashamed of the gospel of Christ. And we decree the bride of Christ will rise with a pure voice proclaiming repentance, holiness, and salvation through Christ Jesus alone. In the name of Jesus, amen. Men. Family, today we've exposed the mouth of the counterfeit bride, puppets that promise blessings without obedience, prosperity without purity.

9:27 Healing without holiness. But the bridegroom is still crying, where is my bride? The one who will open her mouth to declare Christ and him crucified. The one who will not sell my word for profit. The one who will preach truth even when it costs her everything. This week I challenge you, examine the words you're listening to and the words you're speaking. Does your mouth point people to the cross or away from it? Does it declare truth or just what's comfortable? Let your words be seasoned with grace, anchored in scripture, and full of the gospel. Thank you for joining me today on the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, Church Chronicles.

10:09 If this word stirs your heart, share it with someone who needs to be reminded of the true gospel. You can always connect with me on my website, DiaryOfBlackWomenLSC.com, where you will get a copy of this series. I put some new devotions up this week, so go ahead and grab some. They're probably already up, but I'll put some new ones up. And don't miss the next episode of this series, The Hands Exploiting Labor. We'll uncover how the counterfeit bride manipulates and enslaves in the name of service and why the bridegroom is calling its people back to the joy of serving in love and not bondage. Until next time, remember healing, truth, and faith are found in Jesus Christ alone.

10:54 This is your host, Connie Moore, signing off with love, strength, and a touch of class. And I'll see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to this episode. And before we close out, I want going to speak a word of promise over you from Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14. Father God, you declared, I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. So today we received that truth. You said when we call on you, you will listen. So we pray. You said that when we seek you with our hearts, you will be found. So we pursue. You said, you will restore us from captivity. So we declare freedom over every place where our listeners feel stuck, silenced, or small.

11:45 Thank you for always drawing near when we show up in faith. In Jesus' name, amen. Music.